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SUNDAY, Dec. 8, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Shingles can strike anyone who had chickenpox when they were young, and the intense pain that can accompany this body rash has sidelined many a senior. Here, one expert explains how and why shingles can surface, and what you can do to treat it, or better yet, avoid it. Shingles can happen at any age, but it most typically affects people over 50 who have stress and compromised immunity. “Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It’s the same virus that causes chickenpox,” said Dr. Eugene Fellin , a family medicine physician at Penn State Health Medical Group – Fleetwood. “For most of us who grew up before the 1990s, when children began being immunized against chickenpox, we’ve been exposed to the virus and are at risk for shingles.” How can shingles surface? After lying dormant in the nervous system for years, the virus can reemerge as shingles, which causes painful rashes that typically surface on the face or around the side of the torso, Fellin explained. “It’s like a poison ivy rash that won’t go away,” he added in a Penn State news release. “It can occur in patches, but along that same nerve root. A lot of times, people feel some tingling or a burning sensation prior to the rash actually breaking out,” Fellin noted. “When we’re looking for the rash, it will be in a string on the torso because the nerves wrap around the torso. You get a line around you, from the back to the front.” “The other issue we worry about is if it breaks out on the face and involves the eye because this can lead to blindness,” Fellin said. “Shingles around the eye is considered dangerous, and an instant referral to an ophthalmologist is always recommended.” What can you take to treat shingles? Antivirals such as Valacyclovir can be prescribed, but they’re time-sensitive and need to be taken within 36 hours of the start of the rash because they work by slowing the spread of the virus, Fellin said. While symptoms subside after three to five weeks, pain can sometimes return in the form of postherpetic neuralgia , he said. This long-term nerve pain occurs where the shingles rash appeared and can last for months or even years. Older adults are more likely to develop postherpetic neuralgia and have longer lasting and more severe pain, Fellin said. Luckily, there is something you can do to avoid shingles altogether: get vaccinated. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the Shingrix vaccine, given in two doses, with the second dose given two to six months after the first. People who get shingles can still receive the vaccine, which can lower the chances of another outbreak, Fellin noted. Most family doctors and pharmacies stock the vaccine, which is covered by Medicare, he added. “Most insurance programs are covering it because it has been out long enough and shows a real benefit,” Fellin said in a Penn State news release. “There’s a lot of misinformation about vaccines circulating out there. My message is this: Don’t be afraid of this or any vaccine.” SOURCE: Penn State Health, news release, Dec. 5, 2024
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Former President Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States who dedicated his life after leaving office to brokering international peace, has died at age 100, his office confirmed Sunday. Carter had been receiving hospice care since February 2023 at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he lived with his wife of , Rosalynn Carter. The Nov. 19, 2023, two days after her family said she . “They are still holding hands,” the couple’s grandson, Josh Carter, told in August 2023. “It’s just amazing.” In February 2023, the Carter Center that the former president had “decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention” following a series of short hospital stays. “He has the full support of his family and his medical team,” the statement said. President Joe Biden offered his prayers to Carter at the time, : “We admire you for the strength and humility you have shown in difficult times. May you continue your journey with grace and dignity, and God grant you peace.” Days before his 99th birthday and seven months after he entered hospice, the riding in an SUV at the Plains Peanut Festival in Georgia. In October 2024, for Carter’s 100th birthday, Biden recognized him in shared with CBS News, saying, “Mr. President, you’ve always been a moral force for our nation and the world. I recognized that as a young senator. That’s why I supported you so early. You’re a voice of courage, conviction, compassion, and most of all, a beloved friend of Jill and me and our family.” Carter was to reach their 100th birthday. A Georgia native and a Democrat, Carter was elected president in 1976, defeating the Republican incumbent, Gerald Ford, in the aftermath of the Watergate scandal. Carter served one term before losing re-election in 1980 to Ronald Reagan, his bid hobbled by an inability to resolve the Iran hostage crisis, a standoff that lasted 444 days. Carter also was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his human rights work around the world. The oldest living former president since the death of George H.W. Bush in 2018 at 94, Carter was the first American president to have been . Only 56 years old when he left the Oval Office, Carter would spend the next four decades focusing on good works that made him an almost universally revered figure, sometimes called America’s greatest ex-president — a sharp contrast to his relatively low popularity when he exited the White House in January 1981. For years, he and his wife could be found on construction sites hoisting beams and pounding nails to build homes for the disadvantaged with the nonprofit organization Habitat for Humanity. Around the world, Carter was recognized after his presidency for his tireless work promoting peaceful resolutions to conflict and advancing democracy, human rights and social justice, primarily through the Carter Center, which he and the former first lady established at Emory University in Atlanta in 1982. Working through the center, the Carters traveled to developing countries to monitor elections, help build democratic institutions, lobby for victims of human rights abuses and spearhead efforts to eradicate diseases. In February 1986, Carter secured the release of the journalist Luis Mora and the labor leader José Altamirano from prison in Nicaragua. In 1994, he traveled to North Korea at the request of then-President Bill Clinton and soon announced the negotiation of a “treaty of understanding” with the then-leader of North Korea, Kim Il Sung. Carter was also credited with having helped to persuade Egypt and Tunisia to ease violence in the Great Lakes Region of Africa in 1996, and he helped to negotiate the Nairobi Agreement to end the war between Sudan and Uganda in northern Uganda in 1999. In 2002, Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for his decades of untiring effort to find peaceful solutions to international conflicts” and his “outstanding commitment to human rights.” For Carter, the award was something of a mark of rehabilitation after a presidency that ended with one of the , averaging just 45.5% over his single term in office, according to Gallup. In 1978, President Carter brokered the Camp David Accords, a historic peace treaty between Israel and Egypt. The deal, which capped 16 months of negotiations, led to Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1978. Many historians also credit the Carter administration with having been at the forefront of events that led to the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Carter and his hard-line national security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, used human rights to put Moscow on the ideological defensive, and their forceful support for Lech Walesa’s Solidarity movement in Poland helped to fuel a revolutionary wave in Eastern Europe that eventually sparked the fall of communism. But Carter was often characterized as an ineffectual micromanager whose efforts to rally the American people during a time of economic recession and energy shortages landed with a thud. He was mocked for wearing sweaters in the White House to encourage Americans to turn down their thermostats in the winter to conserve energy, and his declaration in a nationally televised address in July 1979 that the United States was suffering a “crisis of confidence” was widely panned, given that it came after 21⁄2 years into his leadership. It came to be known as Carter’s “malaise” speech, even though he never used the word. Reagan would present himself as the sunny alternative to Carter’s scolding demeanor to win the 1980 election in a landslide. In addition, Carter’s decision to boycott the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow in protest of the Russian invasion of Afghanistan was popular domestically, but it remains controversial among historians, with some characterizing it as a missed opportunity to open warmer relations with Moscow and others declaring that it led to a decade of intensified Soviet repression before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The final year of Carter’s presidency was dogged by the Iran hostage crisis, which began Nov. 4, 1979, when Iranian students took more than 60 U.S. hostages at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran after Carter had allowed the deposed shah of Iran to receive medical treatment in the United States on humanitarian grounds. In April 1980, Carter sent an elite rescue team into the embassy compound, but a desert sandstorm crippled several of the military helicopters. One of them crashed into a transport plane on takeoff, killing eight U.S. service members and leading Carter to abort the mission. The debacle prompted Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, to order the hostages scattered among numerous locations to prevent another rescue attempt, and it gave him more ammunition with which to denounce the United States as “the Great Satan.” An official investigation into the rescue attempt found major deficiencies in planning, command and control, and identified critical shortcomings in communication and coordination among the U.S. military branches, bolstering perceptions of Carter as a weak leader and leading to the passage of the Goldwater–Nichols Act, which ordered a top-to-bottom reorganization of the Department of Defense in 1986. Fifty-two of the hostages would remain captive for 444 days, each day ticked off by Walter Cronkite at the end of the “CBS Evening News,” until they were released on Jan. 20, 1981 — the day Reagan was inaugurated as president. James Earl Carter Jr. was born Oct. 1, 1924, in the tiny Sumter County town of Plains in southwest Georgia, where he grew up on a peanut farm. His intellect was recognized early, and he was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy He graduated in 1946 and the same year married Rosalynn Smith, a 19-year-old childhood friend who was a star student at Plains High School. Carter became a submariner in the Navy, where he was spotted by Adm. Hyman Rickover, who is considered the father of the U.S. nuclear submarine program. Rickover selected Carter as an aide and assigned him to Schenectady, New York, where the family relocated while Carter studied reactor technology and nuclear physics at the Union Graduate College. Eventually, Carter would become a senior officer of the USS Seawolf, the United States’ second nuclear submarine. Speaking of Rickover in a 1984 interview with CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Carter said, “There were a few times when I hated him, because he demanded more from me than I thought I could deliver.” Carter appeared set for a stellar military career under Rickover’s tutelage, but in 1953, he left the Navy after the death of his father, returning to Georgia to run the family peanut business. As the company grew, Carter became prominent in south Georgia politics, speaking out as a rare advocate of civil rights in church addresses and as chairman of the Sumter County School Board. He was elected as a Democrat to the state Senate in 1962 in a special election after he challenged his defeat in what an investigation revealed to have been a fraudulent vote. Carter rose quickly, becoming a member of the Democratic Executive Committee and chairman of the Senate Education Committee in just his second two-year term. After just four years in the Senate, Carter launched a campaign for governor, losing the Democratic primary but winning enough votes to force a runoff between the presumed front-runner and an outlandish segregationist chicken-restaurant owner, Lester Maddox. Maddox would win the runoff and the general election. Carter tried again in 1970, this time compromising his civil rights record by declaring himself “basically a redneck” and complimenting the divisive Maddox — who was famous for having used an ax handle as a weapon to drive Black activists from his restaurant in 1964 — for being “steadfast” and “honorable” in his beliefs. “Carter, believe it or not, ran a segregated race, one that he was connected with George Wallace of Alabama,” with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, adding that Carter “hoodwinked enough people to make them believe” that he would work to undermine integration. “I can win this election without a single Black vote,” in July 1970. Carter was forced into a runoff in the Democratic primary, which he easily won. And then he changed strategy to one he would use for the rest of his career — reaching out to Black voters and campaigning in Black churches and easily defeating a Republican news broadcaster in the general election. In his 2014 biography, “ ,” the Dartmouth College religion historian Randall Balmer wrote that Carter regretted the 1970 campaign for the rest of his life. Barred from running for re-election as governor in 1974 and seizing on the opening left by disarray in both major parties after the Watergate scandal, Carter leaped into the 1976 presidential campaign, starting out near the bottom of the polls in a Democratic field of more than a dozen candidates. He was generally derided as “Jimmy who?” Relying on his reputation as a reformer with deep ties in the Baptist church and promising voters “I will never lie to you” — and capitalizing on political cartoonists’ depictions of him as a peanut with a big smile by adopting them in his campaign — Carter entered a record number of state primaries and caucuses. He campaigned tirelessly in Black and other minority communities and slowly chipped away at the opposition. Turning back a liberal “Anybody But Carter” movement led by California Gov. Jerry Brown and Sen. Frank Church, D-Idaho, he had by June wrapped up the nomination. Helped by a colossal blunder by the Republican vice presidential nominee, Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas — who dismissed the U.S.-led victories in both World War I and World War II as “Democrat wars” — Carter defeated President Ford with 50.1% of the vote. Carter took pains to project a modest image to a scandal-weary nation. He walked down Pennsylvania Avenue during his inaugural parade. He carried his own bags on Air Force One. And there were his constant messages to Americans that he couldn’t address the nation’s problems alone, often in self-effacing sweater-wearing public appearances. Throughout his busy post-presidency, Carter wrote — a lot. He wrote more than two dozen books, some with his wife. And as always, his faith, and his humble roots, remained his guides. He continued to teach Sunday school at his hometown church, Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, until the in early 2020, forcing him and his wife to forgo most public engagements. Carter still participated in church activities by video amid the pandemic. “When I got through being governor, I went back to Plains,” . “When I got through being president, I went back to Plains, and now no matter where we are in the world, you look forward to getting back home to Plains.” Carter was the only living president aside from Donald Trump President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021, due to the pandemic. It was the first inauguration Carter had missed as a former president. President Biden and first lady Jill Biden to the Carters in Georgia in April 2021. “We sat and talked about the old days,” Biden said afterward. Carter was diagnosed with in 2015, a virulent form of skin cancer that had spread to his liver and his brain. He underwent experimental treatment with the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab, also known as Keytruda, and a few months later, he announced that doctors had ended his treatments after having found . Carter spent much of the second half of 2019, right before the pandemic hit, in the hospital for brain surgery, infections and that resulted in a broken hip and pelvis. He was back teaching Sunday school at the Maranatha Baptist Church two weeks after he fractured his pelvis. He told the congregation at the time that since doctors told him in 2015 that cancer had spread to his brain, he had been “absolutely and completely at ease with death.”FILE PHOTO: Paris 2024 Olympics - Olympic Village Torch Relay - Olympic Village, Paris, France - July 26, 2024. Former US skier Lindsey Vonn during the Olympic Village Torch Relay David Goldman/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Olympic gold medallist Lindsey Vonn returned to competition for the first time in almost six years on Saturday, as the 40-year-old American finished in the middle of the pack in her opening run in Copper Mountain, Colorado. The four-times overall World Cup champion retired in 2019 and underwent partial knee replacement surgery in April, returning to training in recent months and announcing her comeback in November. Vonn finished 24th out of 45 skiers in her first of two downhill runs in 1:07.23, 1.44 seconds slower than winner Mirjam Puchner of Austria at the lower-level FIS Fall Festival. "Today was a solid start and I had a blast being in start with my teammates again," Vonn wrote on social media. "While I'm sure people will speculate and say I'm not in top form because of the results, I disagree. This was training for me. "I'm still testing equipment and getting back in the groove. This is only the beginning and the way I'm skiing is more important than the times at this point." Vonn had retired as the most decorated woman in alpine skiing with 82 World Cup wins, a record that was overtaken as her compatriot Mikaela Shiffrin amassed 99 wins and counting. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel nowUNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Dec, 2024) As rebels declared an end to President Bashar al-Assad's rule after seizing control of , 's Special Envoy for , Geir Pedersen, said that the developments in the country underscore the clear desire expressed by of Syrians that stable and inclusive transitional arrangements are put in place. In a statement, he urged Syrians to prioritize dialogue, , and respect for international humanitarian law and human rights as they seek to rebuild their society, adding he stands ready to support the people in their journey toward a stable and inclusive future. Hassan Abdul-Ghani, senior commander of the group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, claimed victory for the rebel forces that had stormed across in a matter of days and entered overnight, forcing Assad to flee and ending his 's decades of rule after more than 13 years of civil war. "Today marks a watershed moment in 's history - a nation that has endured nearly 14 years of relentless suffering and unspeakable loss... This dark chapter has left deep scars, but today we look forward with cautious hope to the opening of a new one - one of peace, reconciliation, dignity, and inclusion for Syrians," Pedersen, the envoy, said. The envoy, who has been attending a high-level meeting of States in this weekend, also issued an appeal for the new rulers in to ensure a stable transfer of power and to maintain the country’s institutions. This was the “clear desire” of of Syrians, Pedersen insisted, so that they can ultimately see their “legitimate aspirations” fulfilled “and restore a unified , with its sovereignty, and territorial integrity, in a way that can receive the support and engagement of the entire international community”. On the other hand, ’s humanitarian official said that aid teams will continue to provide emergency relief wherever possible. “We will respond wherever, whenever, however we can to support people in need, including reception centres – , , fuel, tents, blankets,” said Tom Fletcher, Emergency Relief Coordinator and head of the aid coordination office, OCHA. The hostilities have uprooted more than 370,000 people inside , according to OCHA, “with many seeking refuge in the northeast and others trapped in front-line areas, unable to escape”, the ’s senior aid official in , Adam Abdelmoula, said on Saturday. “Civilian casualties, including and children, continue to rise, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian action.” After sweeping into ’s second city, , Hama, Homs and now have fallen in quick succession, despite suggestions that the Security Council-designated group lacked the means to sustain their stunning gains. In the immediate aftermath of HTS’s reported victory and declaration to the of Syrians displaced by the conflict that “a free awaits you”, reports indicated that forces met little resistance in taking . Years of fighting between troops reinforced foreign State-backed fighters against forces including extremists – now essentially pushed out of - have devastated , despite repeated calls for peace via several rounds of UN-led negotiations in , the said. On the sidelines of his official to the Forum, Pedersen, the envoy, also spoke to the representatives of , and – the so-called Group - who had gathered to discuss the forces’ rapid gains in . In a joint statement issued ahead of the fall of by the members and the Foreign Ministers of , , and , they urged an end to the fighting and expressed their support for UN-led efforts to reach a political solution to the crisis, based on Security Council 2254. As events in continued to unfold, the ’s aid official, Tom Fletcher, stressed the need to uphold international humanitarian law “to protect civilians, including aid workers”. That appeal followed reports of a deadly airstrike at ’s Ad Dabousiyah crossing with on 27 in which a Red Crescent ( ) volunteer was killed, along with multiple civilians. The incident led to the suspension of humanitarian convoys into . Although “essential” humanitarian operations have been maintained inside , the has begun to relocate “non-critical staff” the country as a precautionary step, the ’s aid official in the country has said. “This is not an evacuation and our dedication to supporting the people of remains unwavering,” and stressed that “rumours suggesting that the is evacuating staff are false,” insisted Adam Abdelmoula. Meanwhile, in the wake of reports that a coalition of forces has seized the capital and freed prisoners Sednaya and other detention facilities, the human rights probe on the situation called today “a historic new beginning for the people who have suffered unspeakable violence and atrocities over the past 14 years.’ “It is time to finally put Syrians’ own aspirations first and place the country on a path toward a stable, prosperous and just future that guarantees the human rights and dignity its people have so long been denied,” said the Commission of Inquiry on said in a statement. For decades, Sednaya and other infamous detention facilities have been synonymous with fear, loss, suffering and cruelty. The cells where detainees were ill-treated are now open, as are the interrogation chambers where they were tortured using cruel methods that the Commission has documented for years. The Commission called on parties in to facilitate access for independent humanitarian and human rights actors, including the Commission, to the country, including detention facilities. It stresses the importance of ensuring that evidence is protected. Both and leadership have made initial statements indicating their commitment to maintaining good conduct and protecting civilians, which is encouraging. Their deeds must now match their words, stated the Commission. Meanwhile, leaders around the have been reacting to the dramatic developments in : In , a statement issued by the said, "President (Joe) Biden and his team are closely monitoring the extraordinary events in and staying in constant touch with regional partners." US President-elect posted on Truth Social said, "Assad is gone. He has fled his country. His protector, , , , led by , was not interested in protecting him any longer. " and are in a weakened state right now, one because of and a bad economy, the other because of and its fighting success." The Foreign Ministry said in a statement, President Bashar al-Assad has left office and departed the country after giving orders for there to be a peaceful handover of power. The ministry did not say where Assad was now and said did not take part in the talks around his departure. it said 's military bases in had been put on a state of high , but that there was no serious threat to them at the current time. The statement said that is in touch with groups and urges sides to refrain violence. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, said at a press conference in , " has reached a stage where the people will shape the future of their own country, today there is hope." He added, "The people cannot do this alone. attaches importance to territorial integrity. "A new administration must be established inclusively, there should be no desire for revenge. calls on actors to act with prudence and to be watchful. " organizations must not be allowed to take advantage of this situation. groups must be united. We will work for stability and safety in . US Official Daniel Shapiro said, "The will continue to maintain its presence in eastern and will take measures necessary to prevent a resurgence of the Islamic State." Shapiro, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for the East, called on parties to protect civilians, particularly minorities, and respect international norms.
'Rush the damn court!': Mizzou upsets No. 1 Kansas to earn Border War floor-stormingTrump’s social media company is exploring a crypto payment service called TruthFi - CNNKaraa Solutions Limited (CEO Geofrey Mutabazi) announced its participation in “COMEUP Stars 2024,” part of the global startup festival COMEUP 2024. COMEUP Stars 2024 will feature 50 innovative startups in a competitive IR pitching session called “Startup Valley.” Participants include 30 companies in the Rookie League, 10 in the Runners League, and 10 selected from the Rocket League, which is based on recommendations from the COMEUP House and the advisory committee. The finalists represent 13 countries, including South Korea, the United States, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, India, and Türkiye, showcasing COMEUP’s global scale. Karaa Solutions, a Kampala-based startup, is transforming African transportation by introducing sustainable and affordable electric mobility solutions. Founded by Geofrey Mutabazi, a Climate Reality Leader and passionate entrepreneur, Karaa focuses on electrifying bicycles to improve accessibility and productivity for urban and rural communities. The company has developed a unique electric bicycle conversion kit that retrofits conventional bicycles into electric-powered vehicles in under 10 minutes. This innovation addresses the pressing challenges of transportation inefficiency, high costs, and environmental impact across the continent. At COMEUP 2024, Karaa will present its electric bicycle conversion kit, a groundbreaking solution consisting of an electric motor, battery, and smart pedal-assist system. The kit enables bicycles to reach up to 32 km/h and travel 120 kilometers simultaneously. It is adaptable for regions with limited electricity, as the battery can be charged via wall outlets or solar power. Karaa’s solution is designed for affordability and scalability, making electric mobility accessible across Africa without requiring specialized infrastructure. The kit’s benefits extend beyond transportation. By reducing carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels, Karaa contributes to environmental sustainability. Additionally, the pedal-assist system increases productivity by enabling users to travel longer distances with less effort. This makes the solution ideal for agriculture, healthcare, and small business logistics applications. Local assembly and manufacturing partnerships further enhance affordability, job creation, and maintenance ease, ensuring the solution’s long-term viability. Karaa has already electrified over 120 bicycles across multiple African regions, covering more than 100,000 kilometers. Through collaborations with organizations like Buffalo Bicycles, World Bicycle Relief, Sawan, and Africrooze, Karaa has distributed its solutions and developed electric mobility projects in agriculture and logistics. These partnerships have highlighted the transformative potential of Karaa’s solutions in improving mobility and productivity. By participating in COMEUP 2024, Karaa aims to expand its network and connect with potential partners, investors, and technology experts. South Korea offers invaluable learning opportunities with its strong manufacturing capabilities and advanced technology sector. Karaa is particularly interested in building relationships with South Korean companies to enhance its production processes and explore innovative solutions for scaling its operations. Karaa is targeting markets in East, West, and Southern Africa for its expansion. Zambia, a country with widespread bicycle usage similar to Uganda, is one of the first destinations for its electric bicycle conversion kits. Plans include establishing micro-assembly locations to support local manufacturing and creating partnerships with cooperatives and healthcare organizations to integrate electric bicycles into supply chains. Despite logistics costs, import regulations, and financing challenges, Karaa remains committed to scaling its operations and providing sustainable mobility solutions across the continent. COMEUP 2024 will occur on December 11–12 at Coex in Seoul, featuring innovative startups and investors from over 40 countries. This year’s theme, “Innovation Beyond Borders,” highlights startups’ roles in driving global innovation across boundaries of nations and technology. The event will feature conferences, pitching sessions, and exhibitions focusing on deep tech, inbound innovation, and SIS (Sustainable Innovation by Startup).
NINE distinguished biotechnology experts, including a former Science and Technology secretary, were honored during the ninth Filipino Faces of Biotechnology Awards on December 5 at the Philippine International Convention Center. The honorees—former Department of Science and Technology (DOST) secretary and Academician Dr. Estrella Alabastro, biologist/entrepreneur Ma. Antonia Odelia Arroyo, Dr. Edward Barlaan, entomologist Dr. Emiliana Bernardo, Dr. Antonio Laurena, Academician Dr. Eufemio Rasco Jr., Dr. Edison Riñen, Prof. Edgardo Tulin and researcher Lilian Villamor—are celebrated for their outstanding contributions to the different aspects of biotechnology in the Philippines. In his message, Department of Agriculture Biotech Program Director Paul C. Limson said the event was “not only recognizing exceptional talents but also celebrating the vibrant ecosystem that supports and nurtures the biotech community.” “As we navigate this fast-paced world, it is crucial to pause for a moment and recognize those who have seamlessly woven the tapestry of innovation in pursuit of crafting solutions to address challenges in the sectors of agriculture, environment, health, and industry—challenges that impact the lives of every Filipino across communities,” Limson said. He pointed out that the awardees are “champions who possess a unique combination of scientific expertise, visionary thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit.” “They are our pioneers in transforming industries, and trailblazers who constantly push the limits of what is achievable and motivate others to join them in their quest for scientific greatness,” he said. Lim said: “Let us not only applaud their accomplishments but also recognize their sacrifices and the dedication that have fueled their journey to this momentous stage.” The awardees Alabastro, a chemical engineer, served as secretary of the Department of Science and Technology from 2001 to 2010, and is currently a member of the National Academy of Science and Technology Philippines (NAST). She pioneered in research on the thermal processing of local food products to ensure their safety for consumption. Arroyo, known as “Maoi,” is a key figure in biotechnology and entrepreneurship. She founded Hybridigm Consulting, the Philippines’ first biotechnology commercialization firm, and co-founded the Ignite Impact Fund, which aims to address poverty in the country through strategic investments. Barlaan is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Southern Mindanao. His efforts include improving the resistance of the “carabao” mango to diseases and developing DNA probe kits for detecting banana disease pathogens using digital and real-time polymerase chain reactions. Bernardo, a former entomology professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, has been at the forefront of promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural practices. She is an expert in integrated pest management and biosafety and is particularly recognized for her work with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-modified crops, including Bt eggplant. Laurena, a research professor at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, specializes in plant biochemistry and molecular biology. His research focuses on advancing agricultural applications through cell biology and plant biotechnology. Rasco is recognized for his pioneering and outstanding contributions in the field of plant breeding. He won the Rockefeller Foundations Food System Vision Prize “Special Mention,” which made his team one of the top 14 out of 1,300 teams who submitted entries in 2021. Riñen, a former director of Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority, he has made significant strides in Bt cotton development, particularly in its commercialization, which was approved in 2023. Tulin is the incumbent President of Visayas State University. He has been instrumental in advancing regional agricultural research and fostering innovation and sustainable practices in higher education. He has also received the Searca Professorial Chair Award, recognizing his academic excellence in Southeast Asia. Villamor, affiliated with the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Carabao Center, has contributed to the understanding of domesticated buffalo species in the country, helping to clarify their genetic distinctions. Agriculture Undersecretary Asis Perez and Limson led the conferment of awards. Since its inception in 2016, the Filipino Faces of Biotechnology Awards has recognized 66 individuals who have contributed to bridging research and its practical applications to advance the Philippines’ progress in the science field through biotechnology.